Albany Park returns to 4 trains per hour. This must mean one of the Charing Cross services changes pathing and timings. What knock on effects and other changes do we think will happen?
I don't know the details but I wouldn't be surprised if at least some element of pre-election sweeteners is involved: that tweet coming from the local Tory MP already shows some of that at play, and all the constituencies on the south-east edge of London and NW Kent are Tory held.
Albany Park returns to 4 trains per hour. This must mean one of the Charing Cross services changes pathing and timings. What knock on effects and other changes do we think will happen?
June 24 not May.I think a full metro recast was needed after services were somewhat awkwardly taken out last year supposedly because of the 'Elizabeth line impact' (and previously due to Covid loadings). But that was never going to happen for December 2023, so instead is May 2024 with some Thameslink retimings expected too.
June 24 not May.
None. Looking at the offpeak service, the 11min turnround at Dartford is long enough to absorb the extra 1.5min in each direction and there is no obvious conflict to cause problems.
Albany Park returns to 4 trains per hour. This must mean one of the Charing Cross services changes pathing and timings. What knock on effects and other changes do we think will happen?
What other service changes are planned?
Anything to even out the Greenwich branch, which is a state, especially at the inner end that doesn't benefit from CR.
Cannon Street to Woolwich services to terminate at Dartford.
Gravesend to Victoria services returning?
Just saw that. No surprise as the North Kent timings are awful.Cannon Street to Woolwich services to terminate at Dartford.
Victoria to Dartford via Bexleyheath services to be extended to Gravesend.
There were plans to move to having timetable changes in June and October, with a 3rd (optional?) one in February rather than May and December.
The SouthEastern and Thameslinks are currently about 5 minutes apart, so not a huge loss if true.Wasn’t the point of extending more Woolwich trains to Gravesend was so Gravesend & Greenhithe could have 4tph to Abbey Wood for the Elizabeth line? With no sign of the Liz being extended any time soon it’s a backward step.
Personally I think it’s high time they removed Thameslink off the Woolwich line,
For passengers like me, the Thameslink service is perfect. I'd hate to see it go.
It’s ridiculously slow, and I think it’s safe to say that if it were a choice between Charing Cross or Thameslink most people in my area and other areas on that line would choose Charing Cross any day of the week.
The choice isn't between Thameslink and Charing Cross; unless there is a timetable change I haven't seen.
Thameslink gets me into St Pancras and SE gets me into Charing Cross. For me, they aren't really comparative because I use them for very different reasons.
Plenty of commuters love the service because it reduces the need to change when going across town. It's the same with the Lizzy line. The destination is far more important than the journey. With the Lizzy it's worse because the planners are now using it for Victoria with a change at Whitechapel.
Maybe I'm strange in that the only thing I really care about is where I get on and where I need to get off. Thameslink fits that need. I was out for Christmas drinks last week and I got a direct service. SE services can't meet my demands.
This side of Kent needs more connections. The "Haykerloo" line is a billion years away and any extension of the Elizabeth line has too many hurdles to overcome. The Lower Thames Crossing can't come soon enough and if a magical genie appeared and granted wishes, we still wouldn't have a connection across 'The River'
Having SE as the exclusive TOC made them lazy. With Thameslink and the Purple one. It's created competition and hopefully SE will react.
Hmmmm.... Depending on the election timing it may be jam tomorrow promises....Why the discrepancy?Or is it June now post-Brexit?
Edit: Ignore me I see its the 2nd June.
I had quite a long journey in a 465 from Charing Cross - Tunbridge Wells 2 months ago, and found it quite comfortable. It certainly did not seem like a rust bucket to me. It was probably more comfortable than the return journey in a 375, although the return train was busier. I don't get why the 365s are fawned over and the 465s/466s are disliked on this forum, when they are almost the same train.I'm further down the line than you are so my options open up. Getting to Websfleet is too painful so HS1 is out the window as an option. That dash up those stairs it a total dramasode.
DLR is never an option as I've always found it more restrictive and I've never been keen on the change at Woolwich.
The Lizzy I've had mixed experiences with. Nothing major and it's very convenient if going into that's side.of the City. Going into Bond Street from Kent was kinda weird but great. A game changer if it came down my end.
TL and Lizzy have changed the travelling habits of us passengers deeper into Kent. They are well used and almost everyone I know prefers the 700s over SE clapped out rust buckets.
Long may they continue.
The 365s were better cared for and had a serious refurbishment. Southeastern have done pretty much nothing to the 465/466s except fit retention toilets (and l'm not sure that was done to all of them).I had quite a long journey in a 465 from Charing Cross - Tunbridge Wells 2 months ago, and found it quite comfortable. It certainly did not seem like a rust bucket to me. It was probably more comfortable than the return journey in a 375, although the return train was busier. I don't get why the 365s are fawned over and the 465s/466s are disliked on this forum, when they are almost the same train.
I hope TFL dont take over the Southeastern Metro routes as that would almost certainly mean new trains with 100% longitudinal seating.
The 700s are ok, but could do with 2 different interiors. One for short distance services and one for longer runs such as Bedford - Brighton, with more comfortable seats and tables.
Those hoping for Charing Cross services on the Woolwich line will be disappointed. As I understand it the Thameslink works removed the ability to run trains to Charing Cross via Greenwich. You could only run a Charing Cross service via Blackheath, which then takes up capacity on the junctions at Lewisham. Pre COVID-19 I don’t think there were any slots left through Lewisham in the peaks.
So the choice in terms of London terminals for services via Greenwich is Thameslink or Cannon Street or a mixture of services to both. It comes down to the same compromise as exists elsewhere on SE Metro. You can have a turn up and go metro style service from one London terminal or have a less frequent service from a mix of terminals.
I'm further down the line than you are so my options open up. Getting to Websfleet is too painful so HS1 is out the window as an option. That dash up those stairs it a total dramasode.
DLR is never an option as I've always found it more restrictive and I've never been keen on the change at Woolwich.
The Lizzy I've had mixed experiences with. Nothing major and it's very convenient if going into that's side.of the City. Going into Bond Street from Kent was kinda weird but great. A game changer if it came down my end.
TL and Lizzy have changed the travelling habits of us passengers deeper into Kent. They are well used and almost everyone I know prefers the 700s over SE clapped out rust buckets.
Long may they continue.